The Opelousas courier., 1887-06-18
The Clergyman Ghost.

lev. Doyce Starkeye had been
month in his new quarters, the parsor
age Of the church to which he had lat
ly been called. The quarters were ne
to him, but half adozen of his predecei
sors had occupied the house, which w,
pretty in itself, and prettily situate
amid shrubbery and trees. The plae
was a smart town in northern Michigan
The pastor and his wife were entertain
ing for a day three of Mr.. starkcye'
classmates at college. These gentlemc
came up from Ohio for duck shooting o
the Lake Huron shore, and had stoppe,
for a visit to their old school, fellow i
his new location.
After dinner visitors and hosts wer
sitting in the coy parlor while tn
shades of night deepened. The tall
was lively, and all were in the best o
spirits, when one of the visitors sudden
ly exclaimed:
WHAT tnat2"
OF course everybody looked at every
body else, and the visitors saw in Mrs
starkeye's face an expression of annoy.
ance almost amounting to distress.
1t was John Trennam who made the
exclamation. His comrades, Jack
Duceman and Henry Ketlow, demanded
in one breath:
"What is it, joint"
Whats the matter, old fcllow7"
Irennam exclaimed: "Why, that
voice. Didn't you hear it, starkeye? A
mufdad sound like the There it is
againi Do you hear that?,
Every one had heard it this time. Al
mufaed voice, truly; but the words were
plainly heard:
eOh-h-h-h-hi-Don'trn
Along dwell upon the first word. in a
sort of crescando wal; then an ~instant's
pause, and the second word came, short
and sharp, but in a louder tone:
Observation-Disclosures
A woman's voice, evidently. So it
seemed to all the listeners.
Mrs. Starkeye was the first to speak.
sIt has come, Doyce,n she said to her
husband, and the manner, not less than
her words, told that the wailing voice
was not news to them, but was dreaded
By her, ut least.
s~'Starkeye," cried Duccman. sprino-
to his feet, with your permission
we'll lay this ghost for you. see how
. must bother you. Do you give US
eavea Ali that's right. Como. bows.
cts get to the bottom of it. A parson
ant 60 ghost-hunting, but We cam
It was arranged that Trenman should
'eep watch at the west window of the
'arlor. Duceman was to stealthilv sta
Ion himself at the west end of the front
orch, and Ketlow went to the second
.oor room above the par.or. A little
COL headed watching, they thought.
vouid discover something in no very
ing time. They were to remain at their
osts for an hour, ii nothing wal found
meanwhile, and then reassemble il
le parlors to consider further steps.
The nig,t wa notdark, but it was /,
Ifficult to see much around the LEAKAGE /
grounding The parsonage. A soughing.
esterly wind came ftfully through the !
ees. Tie friends took their stations !
q half az hour went By, while at in
the wailing voice was heard.
syond all question II was somewher,
out the weste end Of the house. Blu
here2 Now it sounded to Duceman on I
3 porch IS if it were just above his /
but Che next time it was heard II /
smed 70 come from The top Of 4 silver /
fed poplar that stood close to the west i,
q Of the house. Duccman peered t
onnd toward the poplar, and il his D
gerness steppsd or ths porch among Il
. shrubbery. Il
a0h-h-h-h-hl Don'tfs u
Almost directly above his head. Duce- d
q thought. He was sure ii was III Il
! poplar tree HI crept slowly until d
stood under tho poplar. and then Il
king ~intently through the branches saw il
ark form outlined against the sky-a
upon The peak of tie roof ana not
the tree. DueoInan Was 10th selated
] Indignant at his discovery. d
= hate practical okes and jokers- g
such stupid ones as fhis,a and 81
muttered 81 he stole quickly ana 9
city back 20 tho porch into the house. e
Z give that fellow d lesson be won't 10
SCI, said Duceman to himself Is be g
ared biz ducking gun, ana elen raid Y
asty visit 20 Ms. starkeyc's kitchen. 3
4 minute more Ducemau, Gun il 81
9, vas s~tealiug softly around the e
end Of tho house again. Tnerc sat pc
fellow Or hereof, dirnly seen against VI
sky. Ducemaa raised his gun and
Wilhea loud shrek tue aaure ID
roof plunged forward into tic pop-
Erae. But Tho branches were small Z.
brittle, and the figure crashed IS.
'lgh them md alighied Id The centre IS
great arbor-yit@. Out II This AGAIN